Tensions were already running high in Santa Fe ahead of Saturday’s clásico between Colón and Unión but the atmosphere darkened further yesterday after a group of 30 barra bravas arrived at Colón’s training ground for discussions with the leadership and reportedly punched midfielder Alan Ruiz.

Following the slump in form, the humiliating 3-0 defeat at home in this season’s earlier clash with Unión and Alan Ruiz’s decision to force a move through to Sporting Clube de Portugal, the Colón barra brava have become increasingly threatening. From the hail of rocks onto the pitch that should have seen the previous clásico abandoned before full time to the sinister graffitti at the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López this week that read – ‘Clásico o balas’ (The derby or bullets) the threat has increased.

On Wednesday, a group of around 30 barra bravas met with club officials at the training ground presumably to air their grievances and this led to one of them assaulting Alan Ruiz, according to eyewitnesses.

Ruiz has come in for criticism since the defeat to Unión when he immediately said that he wanted to leave the club and has since virtually forced his move to play in Lisbon. The club suggested last week that they were not even aware that the 23-year-old had travelled to Portugal to sign his deal with Sporting and this has obviously angered supporters. For all Ruiz’s talents he has been no stranger to controversy in his short career but nothing merits this attack. Amid threats to Ruiz and his family, it is almost certain he will not feature in this weekend’s clásico and so Colón will be without their leading goalscorer.

Ten men were arrested shortly after and were being held but after another episode, it poses the question of why these groups are allowed such access within the club.